Two Women, One Civil Servant, and the Official Secrets Act: A Handy‑Spillover Saga
On a rain‑slick Wednesday, the Singapore Police will bring charges against a civil servant and an unsuspecting woman under the Official Secrets Act (OSA). The drama involves leaked Covid‑19 stats, invisible data vaults, and a dash of bureaucratic mischief.
The Civil Servant’s Slip‑Up
The 36‑year‑old official, officially privy to Covid‑19 numbers, apparently decided it was fine to brag about the last update on 22 separate occasions. Think of it as a secret blog post that was meant for a tiny, authorised audience but ended up posted to a private chat group where anyone could see.
Chat‑Group Chaos
These rogue posts were later shared; the MOH had not yet released the figures. Police detectives traced 36 other recipients. They are being issued stern warnings—or let’s say “official advisories”—under the OSA for each misuse.
Enter the “Other” Woman
In the same unanticipated chain of events, another 64‑year‑old woman, part of that chat, begged the civil servant to look up a patient’s case status. The official allegedly accessed a government Covid‑19 database, pulled confidential records, and delivered them back.
Consequently, the civil servant will face a charge of unauthorised access to computer materials under Section 3(1) of the Computer Misuse Act. The other woman is charged with soliciting wrongful communication under Section 5(1) of the OSA.
Possible Penalties
- Wrongful communication under the OSA – up to $2,000 fine and 2 years in jail.
- Unauthorised computer access – up to $5,000 fine and 2 years in jail.
Note from the police: Delete any confidential info you’ve received; don’t share it further. The simplest remedy? Young people, just wipe it from your phone or computer—no souvenir sales for that data.
Why It Matters
While the situation might look like a slow‑moving courtroom drama, it speaks to a crucial truth: data security matters, even amidst the pandemic’s scramble. Singapore’s Ministry of Health guards millions of personal details—still, sharing numbers without permission is a slip into a legal grey zone.
